Term 3

Chinese Culture and the Olympic Games

Useful websites:

China's World Best	Calligraphy colours
The Chinese Dragon	Chinese Festivals
Beijing 2008 (official site)	TVNZ Olympics
NZOC

We will be asking the two important questions:

• Why is it important in Chinese culture?
• How is it represented in Chinese culture?

Art

This term we are learning about Chinese calligraphy. This fits perfectly in with our study of Chinese culture and the Beijing Olympics. You can find great information on calligraphy here:

The art of Chinese calligraphy	Chinese calligraphy scrolls
Japanese calligraphy	Egyptian calligraphy
Calligraphy symbols

When viewing the scrolls and calligraphy think about:

• What does it remind you of?
• Can you think of any other special types of writing that you have read about or seen pictures of?
• How do you think it is created?
• Who makes and uses it?
• Can you tell what sorts of tools and materials have been used?
• What is a scroll?
• Why do people hang scrolls of calligraphy on their walls?
• If it is writing, do you know what it says?
• Can you see separate "letters"? Can you see "sentences"?